Bekntagd benedict



. BENEDICT.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT. APPLIICATION FILED MAYH.1911.

Lem?,

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

EEENAED EENEEICT,` OE NEWYOEK, N. Y., assIerNon To NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, i

INC., OF NEW Yoiair, N. Y., a COEPOEATION OE NEW from.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, BERNARD BENEDICT, a citizen of the UnitedStates,` residing at New York city, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference 'being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to self-contained or battery-operated portable electric lights and `relates more particularly to the flat type of these lights. An object of my invention is to provide such a light of simple and inexpensive coii'struction which has a large number of uses and advantages, which will hereinafter appear in detail. Y

My invention includes novel means for holding the battery in the casing and for completing the circuit of such battery to a miniature incandescent lamp supported by and exposed at the Outside of one ofthe flat.

sides of the battery-containing casing. 4My invention also includes a mirror forming an outer surface of one' of the sides of the battery-containing casing combined` with a lamp adapted to illuminate an object reflected in the mirror.` Myinvention more' particularly includes a miniature incandescent lamp and a mirror both fixedly or rigidly supported by and exposed ad] acent to each other at the same side of one of the flat sides of the battery-containing casing. My invention also includes in combination particular features of construction and combil 4nations of parts as will appear from the following description. y

l shall now describe .the portable electric light embodying my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawin and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a frdnt elevation of the complete device. Y

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on a vertical plane indicated byxtliel line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as viewed from the left, thebattery being omitted. A

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the complete de-` vice as viewed from the left in Fig. 1, but with the device inclined rearwardly and the bail partly extended so as to act as a support or prop therefor.

Fig. 4 is a front .elevation of the complete device with the casing partly open and with Specification of Letters Patent.

E EOETAELE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

the bail fully extended and with parts ofthe bail omitted. i

5 is an enlarged partial lO 'tudinal section on an inclined or diagonal p 'ane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figs. 3 and 4, as viewed from the right and slightly toward the rear in Fig. 3 and as viewed from the front and slightly from the left in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse section of the rear casing part on a horizontal plane indi cated by the line 6 6 of' Fig. 4, and illustrates the spring battery-holding clip.

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section on i Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application led May 11, 1917. Serial No. 167,888.

a plane indicated by the line 7447 of Fig. 3 i

tachrnent, of the combined battery-supporting and contact-making device, carried by the rear casing part at the top of the battery.

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal section on a plane indicated by the' line 9-9 of Figs. 4 and 8 as viewed from the left.

Fig. 10 is a similar view on a cated by the line 10-10.

The portable electric light embodying my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings hasa rounded substantially rectangular elongated flat'sheet metal casing which is divided in a plane passing midway between and parallel with the flat sides thereof, or inthe plane of its largest dimensions, into two similar halves or casing parts 1 and 2,'of which the rear half 1 may be vdesignated as the battery-supporting casing part, and of which the front half 2 may be designated as the lamp-carrying and mirrorproviding casing part. The casing parts or halves 1 and 2 are pivotallyunited by means of a hinge 3 which is shown as pivotally connecting or hinging together adjacent longer edges or margins of the casing parts 1 and 2 and which, in the construction illustrated in the drawings, appears at thel right when the device is viewed from the front, as in Fig. 1. rThe free edges or margins ofthe casing parts 1 and 2 opposite to the hinge 3 are provided with a snap catch or latch of plane indiusual form and shown as comprising a leaf spring 4 secured at the inside of the margin of the front casing part 2 by means of a the leaf spring 4 is also provided with a lateral perforated extension 7 forming a catch adapted to engage with an inner projection 8 at the inside of the free margin of the rear casing part 1 and formed by indentingin- Ward the metal thereof.

In the construction of portable electric i light illustrated in the drawings as an embodiment of my invention, the battery-supporting means and the circuit-completing means are in part combined and are located in or carried by the rear casing part 1. The flat sheet metal casing, comprising the two hinged parts or-halvesl and 2, contains a usual flat form of dry battery 9 which has the usual spring contact terminals 10 and 11, of which the contact spring or contact strip 10 is of the usual short upright form, and.

p end, for example, by means of solder, to the inside of the margin of the rear casing part 1 and at its upper end is turned inwardly toward but normally out of .contact with the upright battery .terminal 10. At an intermediate point the contact spring 12 is shown as provided with a usuial batteryspacing loop 13. Above the'loop 13 the 'contact spring 12 is provided with a push button 14 projecting to the outside of the casing part l for manual actuation. Also the contact spring 12 is adapted to be actuated by means of a slide 15 guided in a usual way on the casing part 1 and adapted to over-1 ride the projecting rounded end of the push button 14 in a usual way. A

At its lower end the battery 9, which has the usual outer insulating covering, rests upon and is supported by a battery-supporting ledge or shelf 16, which Vis shown as formedvfrom a strip of sheet metal bent at right angles on a rounded curve to provide a rounded battery-supporting surface, as appears in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, this lower battery-support 1'6lbeing suitably secured to the inside of the rear casing part 1, -for example, by soldering.

The battery 9 is further supported and is securely held within the rear casing part 1 in the open condition of the casing, appearing in Fig. 4, by means of a bent spring clip 17 secured, for example, by means of solder,

to the inner margin of the rear metallic casing part 1 and` resiliently engaging and gripping the edge and partly at the front of the margin ofthe battery 9, as will be clear from Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings. It will be noted that this spring battery-holding clip 17 not only prevents the battery 9 from falllng out of the battery-holding casing part 1 1n the open position of the cover part 2, but also this spring clip 17 pushes or presses -the battery toward the hinged side of the casing and effectually preventsv accidental shifting movement of the battery 9 which might bring its short upright contact terminal 10 into circuit-closing or contact-making relatiouwith the inturned end of the contact spring 12 in the normally open circuit position. of the latter.

A metallic screw-threaded lamp socket 18, forming also a reflector, as clearly appears in the drawings, is ixedly carried by the front cas-ing part or casing half 2 at the upper margln of the flat part thereof so as to be directed or to open outwardly from the fiat side of .the casin and this lamp socket 18 is shown -as forme of a separate piece which is solderedin place in an opening in the upper -margin of the fiat side of the front casing part 2, as appears in the drawings. A usual miniature incandescent lamp, having a bulb 19 exposed at the outside of the Hat side of the front casing half 2, has a usual annular screw-threaded metallic base terminal 20 screwed into the l-amp socket 18, and a usual central terminal 21 exposed at the inside of the casing above the battery 9 but, by reason of the transverse position of the lamp, the central terminal 21 is not in position to be engaged by the long transversely extending spring battery terminal 11.

A combined battery-supporting and circuit-completing device is 'carried by the rear casing part 1 at the top of the battery 9 so as to format this point an abutment for the upper end of the battery 9 and also, in the closed condition of the casing, is adapted to complete the electrical connection between the transversely extending longer battery terminal 1-1 and the central -terminal 2f1 of the lamp. A substantially L-shaped and generally vertically arranged bent sheet metal battery support 22 is of comparatively rigid coustruction and at its lower outwardly projecting end engages. above and holds the f longer spring battery terminal 11 in a depressed position. In its upper part the battery-holding metal strip 22 is conformed to the interior curve of the upper margin of the rear casing part 1 and is secured'thereto but is insulated therefrom. Two superposed layers or thicknesses 23 and 24 of electrically insulating material are interposed between the battery-supporting member 22 and the adjacent inner surface of the metallic rear casing 1part 1. The metallic battery-supporting metal strip 22 is firmly and rigidly secured to the inwardly exposed insulating layer 23 by meansof metallic rivets 25 and 26, shown as of the tubular type, and these Vmetallic rivets 25 and 26 are insulated from the casing part 1 by the other interposed inremita' sulating layer 'or plate24. The two insuilatwithin the tubular rivets 27, as appears most Vao clearly in Figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings.

j The comparatively rigid battery-supporting abutment member 22 is provided with a comparatively flexible resilient Contact spring .29 whichis carried by and projects laterally from the battery-holding abutment member 22 to which it is shown as firmly secured at one. end by means of the. lower rivet 26. i The rojecting free end part of the circuit-comp etin contact spring 29 projects laterally in o set relation froml the battery-supporting member 22 and in spaced relation to the adjacent insulating plate 23 and is disposed in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the. central terminal 21 of the lamp when the casing is in the closed condition as appears in Fig. 2 of the drawings. y It Will now be clear that the vcontinuity of the battery circuit is completed or preserved from the longer transverse spring battery terminal 11 through the elec-v trically conductive battery-supporting member 22 and resilient contact spring 29 to the,

central terminal 21 of the lamp. i

A mirror 30 is lixedly or rigidly carried by the front casing half or front casing part 2 and is exposed at the outside of the flat side thereof. The mirror 30 is thus exposed at the outside of the flat side of the front casing part or cover part 2 through an opening cut therein, as appears in the drawings, this opening being of slightly smaller dimension than is the mirror 30,

and the sheet metal which forms the flat casing part or coverpart 2 is embossed .or pressed outward around the mirror-receiving opening to form a frame for the mirror. This mirror-holding frame includes a niarginal fiat part or flange 3-1 which overlaps upon the outer edges or margins of the mirror 30, in the construction shown in the drawings these margins of the mirror 30 being shown as beveled, as appears' in Figs. 1 and 2 0f the drawings. The mirror-engaging flange 31 0f the mirror frame is 01T- set outwardly from the adjacent flat part of the casing cover 2 and is joined thereto by an inclined side part 32, so that the back of the mirror is substantially flush or in the same plane with the inner surface of the adjacent flat front part of .the casing cover 2, as most clearly appears in Fig. 2 pf the drawings. The mirror 30 is firmly and rigidly held in pl-ace in its frame, comprising the flange 31 and inclined .side part 32, by means of a metallic backing plate 33 which completely covers/ andv supports the exposed at the outside ofthe front, or flat side of the casing, so that objects which are in osition to be reflected in the mirror 30 wil be illuminated by the lamp bulb-19. lt is also to be noted that `the lamp bulb 19 and mirror 30 are always exposed at the outside of the casing in position for instant use, either separately or in combination.

A `foldable bail 34 is frictionally pivoted to the rear casing part 1 so as to be extended rearwardly outwardly and upwardly angularly therefrom. rllhe bail 34 is 4formed from suitable spring wire and is shown as adapted to be frictionally held in desired vadjusted position by means of conical pivot ends 35 formed thereon and adapted to enter.

and frictionally engage with correspondingly conical sockets 36 shown as formed by indenting the material of the metallic rear casing part 1 adjacent to the upper end thereof and. also adjacent to the rear wall thereof, as appears in the drawings, this construction being more particularly illustrated in Fig. 7. Ilhe pivoted Wire bail 34 1s adapted in its folded position to lie in contact with and partly surround the rear of the rear casing part 1, being correspondingly shaped as appears in Fig. 4, and in its folded position the free middle part of the bail 34 is adapted to engage with a catch 37 shown as formed at 4the bottom and rear of the rear casing part 1 by indentin outward' Jthe sheet metal thereof, as clear y appears in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the resiliency of the bail .34 adapting it to be snapped over o'r readily disengaged from the catch 37, which, of course, 1s rigid. lin the inclined position of the frictionally pivoted springv wire bail 34 aptpearing in Fig. 4, in which it is shown as ac ing as a ropor su ort an sli in 0f the free middle part fpthe bail 341%;l 0% the lower end of theinclined casing of the device upon a smooth sup-porting surface will be prevented by reason of the frictional engagement of the conical ends 35 in the sockets 36, into which they are pressed by the spring tension of the bail 34.

Thecomplete construction of the device has been hereinbefore particularly described, and its operation, manner of use and advantages will now be briefly noted, as fflilws: First, it may be employed for all o e spring wire forming the.

purposes of an ordinary flashlight or- 'forming an electric lantern. Third, the ex.

Second, Y

tended bail 34 provides for attachment ofthe device to the clothing, for example, by means of a pin or over a buttonand theA device may be thus employed by trained nurses in making out their reports, by policemen in out reports, by motorists for reading roa maps,- bypublic speakers for readin their notes, etc.. Fourth, the device may e employed as a self-illuminating mirror, and

when. thus employed may be supported upon a table or the like in the position appearing in Fig. 3' or it may be suspended by the bail 34 .fromany convenient hook or nail, or the extended bail 34 may be attached by means of a pin to a curtain orthe like. With the bail 34 in the folded position, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2, the device may be conveniently carried in a mans coat, vest or trousers pocket, or in a pocket of a ladys garment, or in her hand bag; also the device may be packed in a traveling case, the same as the Aexposed at the outside of thel usual common form of flashlight of similar general appearance but without the 'features of improvement of my invention l It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawingsand above particularly de.

scribed within the invention.

I claim: i Y 1. A portable electric light comprising a fiat casing divided into front and rear parts principle andiscope of my 1n a plane passing between its at sides, a

hinge uniting the two casing parts, batterysupporting means in the rear casing part, a lamp socket xedly carried by the front casing-part at a margin thereof and arranged -to expose the lamp at the outside of the Hat side of said front casing part, and a mirror xedly carried by said front casing art and at side thereof.

` 2. The invention claimed in claim 1-in which said battery-supportin means com- -prise a battery-supporting le ge at the bottom', a battery-supporting spring cli at one side, and a battery-supporting a utment v member at the top of the battery.

3., The invention claimed vin claim 2 in which the casing is of -sheet metall and in which said upper battery-supporting member is of electrically conductive material'and is insulated from the metallic rear casing part by which itis carried and engages and forms an electrical connection with one of the'batthe central terminalof the lamp when t closed.

4. The inventionclaimed in claim 1 in which sai battery-supporting means iuclude an u per electrically conductive battery-supporting abutment membbr carried by and insulated from the rear casing part 'and engageable with a contact spring or terminal of the battery. i

5. The invention claimed in claim 4 in combination with a contact sprin which projects from said upperinsulatedatterysupporting abutment member and is arranged in the path of and adapted to vbe engaged'by the central terminal of the lamp in the lamp socket when the casing is in closed condition.

6. The invention claimed in claim 1 in combination with a foldable bail frictionally pivoted to said rear casing part so as to be extended rearwardly and outwardly anguvlarly therefrom, and a catch on said rear casingpart for holding said bail in its folded posltion.

7. The invention claimed in claim 3 1n combination with' superposedinsulating l porting member from said metallic rear cassaid insulatin plates, 'and plgs of solder within said tu ular rivets forv securing said `insulating plates .to the adjacent inner side of' said metallic rear casing part. v

8. The invention clalmed 1n claim 6 i .plates for insulating the upper battecy supwhich the bail is of spring material and is provided with conically tapered ends, correspondingly tapered sockets being rovided inthe rear casing part' for recelvlng said tapered ends of the bail and for frictionally holding the bail in adjusted position by reason of the spring tension of the bail.

9. The invention claimed in claim -1 in which the front fiat side of the front casing part is provided with an opening for exposing the mirror, the margln around said opening being embossed outwardly to provide a frame for the mirror and the mirror being inserted -from the rear into such frame, in combination with -a backing plate for the mirror of larger dimensions than said mirror and secured at its projecting margin to the adjacent inner side 'ofc said front casing part so as to cover the back of the mirror and hold the mirrorin place in said frame provided part.

10. A portable electric light comprising a at metallic casing divided into front and rear Hat sldes, a binge uniting the two casing parts, battery-supporting means in therear casing part, a lamp socket xedly carried by in said front casing` parts in a plane 'passing between its the front casing part at a margin thereof and arranged to expose the-lamp at theoutside of the Hat side of said front casing part, said battery-supporting means includ-l lng an upper electrically conductive combined battery-supporting and contact-making device carried by and insulated from the rear casing part and engageable with a contact spring or terminal of the battery and adapted to be engaged by the central terminal of the lamp when the casing is inh the closed condition.

11. rllhe invention claimed in claim 10 in which the said combined battery-supporting and lcontact-making device comprises a comparatively rigid battery-supporting memof the flat side of said front casing part,

a battery-supporting ledge at the bottom of the rear casing part, a battery-supporting spring clip at one side of said rear casing part, an electrically conductive upper battery-supporting member carried by and insulated from the rear casing part at the top of the battery and engaging with one of the battery terminals, and a contact spring carried by said upper battery-supporting member in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the central terminal of the lamp when the casing is in the closed condition.

13. A portable electric light comprising a Hat metallic casing divided into front and rear halves in a plane passing substantially midway between its flat sides, said front and rear halves being adapted to be closed together or opened apart, battery-supporting means in the rear casing half, a lamp socket fixedly carried by the front casing half at a margin thereof and arranged to expose the lamp at the outside of the flat side of said front casing half, and a resilient circuit-completing member carried by the rear casing half and insulated there from and in electrical connection with a battery terminal and in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the central term-` inal of the lamp in the lamp socket when the casing halves are closed together.

14. The invention claimed in claim 13 in which a mirror is xedly carried by said front casing half and is exposed at the outside of the flat side thereof.

15. A portable electric light comprising a flat metallic casing divided ito front and rear halves in a plane passing substantially midway between its flat sides, a hinge uniting the two halves, a lamp socket fixedly carried by thefront casing half at a margin thereof andarranged to expose the lamp at the outside of the flat side of said front casing half, a mirror xedly carried by said front casing half and exposed at the outside of the flat side thereof, battery-sup porting means in the rear casing "half, a

`circuit-completing member carried by and insulated from the rear casing half at the inside thereof and adapted electrically to connect one lof the battery terminals with Vthe central terminal 'of the lamp in the closed position of the casing parts, and a foldable bail frictionally pivoted to said rear casing half so as to be extended rearwardly and outwardly angularly therefrom.

16. rlhe invention claimed in claim 1 in combination with a foldable bail frictionally pivoted to said battery-containing casing so as to be extended from the flat back thereof rearwardly and outwardly angularly therefrom.

17. A portable electric light comprising a fiat casing divided into front and rear halves in a plane passing between its flat sides, a hinge uniting the two halves, battery-supporting means in the rear casing half, a lamp socket fixedly carried by the front casing half at a margin thereof vand 'arranged to expose the lamp at the -outside of the, flat side of said front casing half, and a mirror fixedly carried by said front casing half and exposed at the outside of the flat side thereof.

18. The invention claimed in claim 17 in combination with a foldable bail or handle movably mounted on said casing yso as to be extended therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

BERNARD BENEDICT. 

